A considerable number of computer users are on their way to upgrade their computers. these computers are conventional PCs or Laptops with Hard Disk Drives installed in them. The HDD is the technology of the past for the present world of computing. With some merits and demerits, the HDD is being gradually replaced by the new SSD. Though there are a few things to keep in mind before you upgrade your SSD on an old machine.

So if you plan to get a new SSD for your computer or laptop, here are a few things that you should know. I would suggest keeping in mind that the SSD is not the ultimate solution to all your necessities. It means you always should keep space for a little tolerance towards the functionality of your SSD-equipped computer. The SSD has no moving part and thus there will be relief in terms of noise that your HHD makes. Also, there is no moving part in the SSD which allows the data to transfer at a much faster pace than your previous configuration.

With the insight of a better functioning computer, laptop or PC, here are 5 things that you should keep in mind before upgrading your system with SSD.

About Storage

The SSD has no limitation for storing your data, however, you should keep in mind certain tolerance limits. Basically, the SSD is required for the operating system because it allows the loading and functioning of the operating system smoother. So if you want to upgrade your SSD just for the operating system, a 128 GB SSD is sufficient.

If you are using the SSD of low capacity, like 64GB, 128GB and so on, try not to store other material. Keep the SSD exclusively for your operating system and avoid other items. If you want to save your music, videos, files and other data, try to save them in your already existing HDD.

There are some reasons for avoiding filling up of storage space on your SSD. The more you stuff files and other material in your SSD, the slower it will get. It doesn’t mean that you will find it hard to work on your new configured system. But it will be a fractional decrease in the operating speed of your system.

There is another reason for not writing many files on the SSD. The life of SSD is judged by a number of write cycles done on it. The number of write cycles reduces the lifespan of an SSD. Although, tests show that if we write 10 GB of data in an SSD daily, it will take around 10 – 12 years for your SSD to wear out.

If you are using a PC, you can use your alternate HDD for storing other files than the operating system. If you are using a laptop, you can replace your DVD drive and install a new SSD exclusively for storing other items. You can also make use of cloud storage if you have less storage space.

Economy

Initially, the SSDs were quite costly and available for only the privileged ones. However, with time, the SSD technology improved a lot and now the manufacturers are able to make low-cost high-efficiency solid state drives. Most of the new computers come with SSD installed with them.

This consumer grade SSD has taken over the conventional hard disk drives. This is much more efficient that the HHDs. But most of all, it is compact and noise free that makes it more famous for everyone.

The price of SSDs has been declining every month which makes it largely available for all. Although, it will cost you more than the contemporary hard disk drives. There is a huge scope of SSDs in the future, so it’s a good investment for your PC or Laptop.

Performance

Going for the upgrade is one of the best things that you can do for your computer. There is a scope for all kind of speed enhancement and performance increase with the new SSD in your computer.

As soon as you get the SSD in your system, you can see the change. There will be a much faster boot up on your computer. If you are using Windows 8.1 or higher, the boot time is going to decrease significantly. All the programs will be faster to launch and operate. The same is with all the files while you access them.

Including the low noise and less weight, you can experience a fast computing. The SSD also enhances your experience with no noise operation. As there is no moving part like your HDD, you will be relieved from the constant noise from your computer. Using SSD will enhance your battery performance as it uses a lot less power than the conventional drive.

Installing SSD

The installation of SSD is not at all difficult, especially for PCs. If you know how to install a conventional drive in your system, you can also install the SSD in the same system. If you are installing in your laptop, there are a few things to keep in mind.

There is a huge network, integrated into a small space, so keep caution while you unscrew the laptop. Before installing you have to change some BIOS configuration settings. In the SATA setting changes it from IDE to AHCI. You will get the setting in all the computers under the BIOS setup utility. Different computers have this setting with different titles. But you can access this setting in all the computers in BIOS settings.

Operating System

Once you have installed the SSD, you can see a faster performance in your system. But in order to use it, you have to migrate all the applications and the operating system. If you have been using the operating system in your old hard drive, you can migrate all the applications and the operating system from the old drive to new SSD.

There are several third party programs that can migrate all your files and data from old drive to new. Several of the SSDs come with a migration software or CD that allows you to transfer all the files onto your new SSD. You can connect your SSD with a USB to the system and migrate all the applications and operating system files.

Using such method to migrate your files can lead to corruption of loss of data. Most of the times, the system files that are migrated do not work properly. It may lead to partition loss, file corruption or any malfunctioning in the operating system. Recovering of partitions that are lost from SSD can be a great source of pain for you.

So in order to properly use the operating system on your new SSD, it’s better to reinstall your OS on the new drive. The similar move should be taken in case of all the applications. Try to reinstall all the applications that you intend to use.

Finally, upgrading your PC or laptop from conventional hard drives to the new Solid state drives is one smart move. There are certain cautions that should be taken care. And understanding these five points can affect your transition to a great extent.

5 Points Everyone Should Know Before Upgrading SSD was last modified: January 30th, 2017 by John Harris